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Next: Rear Reading Light
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External
Since: Sep 05, 2006
Posts: 6
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(Msg. 1) Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 8:55 pm
Post subject: smeary windshield wipers
Archived from groups: alt>autos>subaru (more info?)
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This is weird. My wife and I both drive fairly new Subarus. Mine is
about a year older, and since it was new I have never been happy with
the way the wipers leave a trailing hazy "glow" that disappates after a
few seconds, only to re-appear on the next swipe. My wife's car has no
such problems at all. I have tried various wiper blades, both Subaru and
OEM and the results are the same. I have tried all kinds of ways to
clean the windshield. Sometimes, after cleaning, the problem goes away
for a while, but after as little as a half hour it comes back. It's as
if there was a bit of oil on the windshield. I'm left wondering if the
car itself is "venting" something oily from under the hood that's
winding up on the windshield. Most recently, I tried a cleaning product,
"No Touch" recommended by the local parts dealer. It claims to remove
everything. It worked well...for a while. I've also tried RainX which
itself is pretty amazing, but the problem recurs after an hour or so.
Any ideas?
TIA
Jason
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External
Since: Jan 20, 2004
Posts: 998
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(Msg. 2) Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 8:55 pm
Post subject: Re: smeary windshield wipers [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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Jason wrote:
> This is weird. My wife and I both drive fairly new Subarus. Mine is
> about a year older, and since it was new I have never been happy with
> the way the wipers leave a trailing hazy "glow" that disappates after a
> few seconds, only to re-appear on the next swipe. My wife's car has no
> such problems at all. I have tried various wiper blades, both Subaru and
> OEM and the results are the same. I have tried all kinds of ways to
> clean the windshield. Sometimes, after cleaning, the problem goes away
> for a while, but after as little as a half hour it comes back. It's as
> if there was a bit of oil on the windshield. I'm left wondering if the
> car itself is "venting" something oily from under the hood that's
> winding up on the windshield. Most recently, I tried a cleaning product,
> "No Touch" recommended by the local parts dealer. It claims to remove
> everything. It worked well...for a while. I've also tried RainX which
> itself is pretty amazing, but the problem recurs after an hour or so.
> Any ideas?
>
> TIA
>
> Jason
She drives a legacy and you drive an impreza right?
Carl
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External
Since: Aug 02, 2006
Posts: 136
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(Msg. 3) Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 8:55 pm
Post subject: Re: smeary windshield wipers [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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On Tue, 05 Sep 2006 23:13:53 GMT, Jason
wrote:
>This is weird. My wife and I both drive fairly new Subarus. Mine is
>about a year older, and since it was new I have never been happy with
>the way the wipers leave a trailing hazy "glow" that disappates after a
>few seconds, only to re-appear on the next swipe. My wife's car has no
>such problems at all. I have tried various wiper blades, both Subaru and
>OEM and the results are the same. I have tried all kinds of ways to
>clean the windshield. Sometimes, after cleaning, the problem goes away
>for a while, but after as little as a half hour it comes back. It's as
>if there was a bit of oil on the windshield. I'm left wondering if the
>car itself is "venting" something oily from under the hood that's
>winding up on the windshield. Most recently, I tried a cleaning product,
>"No Touch" recommended by the local parts dealer. It claims to remove
>everything. It worked well...for a while. I've also tried RainX which
>itself is pretty amazing, but the problem recurs after an hour or so.
>Any ideas?
>
>TIA
>
>Jason
Maybe it's environmental based on where the vehicles are driven,
parked, whatever.
Try trading vehicles for a week and see if the hazy glow follows the
vehicle ???????? >> Stay informed about: smeary windshield wipers |
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External
Since: Sep 05, 2006
Posts: 6
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(Msg. 4) Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:55 pm
Post subject: Re: smeary windshield wipers [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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In article ,
alckytxn.RemoveThis@swbell.not says...
>
> She drives a legacy and you drive an impreza right?
>
> Carl
>
No Carl, both Outback Legacy models - here's is a wagon, mine's a sedan
(3.0R).
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reverse my name in email address >> Stay informed about: smeary windshield wipers |
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External
Since: Jan 20, 2004
Posts: 998
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(Msg. 5) Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:55 pm
Post subject: Re: smeary windshield wipers [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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Jason wrote:
> In article ,
> alckytxn RemoveThis @swbell.not says...
>
>
>>She drives a legacy and you drive an impreza right?
>>
>>Carl
>>
>
> No Carl, both Outback Legacy models - here's is a wagon, mine's a sedan
> (3.0R).
>
DANG! lol! I was gonna try, "Hers is assembled in the US and yours has
cosmolene on it from being shipped from Japan and it's still burning off"
Are you sure it isn't on the inside of the windshield? Do you ever
notice a sweet smell like toasted marshmallows or any type of oil smell?
Does an inspection under the hood look OK? Any low fluids?
How many miles/what year model is the offending vehicle?
Same parking situations at night and at work?
Carl
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to reply, change ( .not) to ( .net) >> Stay informed about: smeary windshield wipers |
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External
Since: Feb 12, 2006
Posts: 54
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(Msg. 6) Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 4:49 am
Post subject: Re: smeary windshield wipers [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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This is crazy, I know, but, I have a 2006 Outback 3.0 VDC, and, my wife had
a 2001 Forester, now a 2007 Forester, and...my wipers smear and hers
didn't/don't...
"Jason" wrote in message
> This is weird. My wife and I both drive fairly new Subarus. Mine is
> about a year older, and since it was new I have never been happy with
> the way the wipers leave a trailing hazy "glow" that disappates after a
> few seconds, only to re-appear on the next swipe. My wife's car has no
> such problems at all. I have tried various wiper blades, both Subaru and
> OEM and the results are the same. I have tried all kinds of ways to
> clean the windshield. Sometimes, after cleaning, the problem goes away
> for a while, but after as little as a half hour it comes back. It's as
> if there was a bit of oil on the windshield. I'm left wondering if the
> car itself is "venting" something oily from under the hood that's
> winding up on the windshield. Most recently, I tried a cleaning product,
> "No Touch" recommended by the local parts dealer. It claims to remove
> everything. It worked well...for a while. I've also tried RainX which
> itself is pretty amazing, but the problem recurs after an hour or so.
> Any ideas?
>
> TIA
>
> Jason
> --
> reverse my name in email address >> Stay informed about: smeary windshield wipers |
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External
Since: Sep 05, 2006
Posts: 6
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(Msg. 7) Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 10:55 am
Post subject: Re: smeary windshield wipers [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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In article ,
nerraw_nosaj DeleteThis @verizon.net says...
Both cars are driven under the same conditions, spend their nights in
the same garage, etc etc... so I don't think there's something different
in that regard. Besides, they're not strictly "mine" and "hers," we
drive each about equally, depending on whether we need the extra space
in the wagon for hauling stuff.
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reverse my name in email address >> Stay informed about: smeary windshield wipers |
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External
Since: Sep 05, 2006
Posts: 6
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(Msg. 8) Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 10:55 am
Post subject: Re: smeary windshield wipers [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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In article , wdbradley3
@comcast.net says...
> This is crazy, I know, but, I have a 2006 Outback 3.0 VDC, and, my wife had
> a 2001 Forester, now a 2007 Forester, and...my wipers smear and hers
> didn't/don't...
Hmmm. Maybe this lends some support to my hypothesis that the car is
emitting something oily. I did notice, last time I checked, that the
brake fluid level was just very slightly low...
Jason >> Stay informed about: smeary windshield wipers |
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External
Since: Mar 09, 2005
Posts: 69
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(Msg. 9) Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 7:55 pm
Post subject: Re: smeary windshield wipers [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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Oh yea.. I forgot one more thing.
There comes a point where it's just not possible to get non-smeary
windshield wipers. At that point, just replace your wipers *AND THEN GO
THROUGH THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD CLEANSING OPERATION AGAIN.*
Sometimes wipers are so dirty they screw up your windshield all by
themselves. After a wiper replacement, you SHOULD clean your windshield
again *BEFORE* you use the new wipers, or they'll need to be cleaned too. >> Stay informed about: smeary windshield wipers |
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External
Since: Nov 02, 2004
Posts: 12
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(Msg. 10) Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 1:55 am
Post subject: Re: smeary windshield wipers [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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Try using some rainx, it really helps make the water bead off your
windshield. I found no smeary mess when I did that.
"Jason" wrote in message
> This is weird. My wife and I both drive fairly new Subarus. Mine is
> about a year older, and since it was new I have never been happy with
> the way the wipers leave a trailing hazy "glow" that disappates after a
> few seconds, only to re-appear on the next swipe. My wife's car has no
> such problems at all. I have tried various wiper blades, both Subaru and
> OEM and the results are the same. I have tried all kinds of ways to
> clean the windshield. Sometimes, after cleaning, the problem goes away
> for a while, but after as little as a half hour it comes back. It's as
> if there was a bit of oil on the windshield. I'm left wondering if the
> car itself is "venting" something oily from under the hood that's
> winding up on the windshield. Most recently, I tried a cleaning product,
> "No Touch" recommended by the local parts dealer. It claims to remove
> everything. It worked well...for a while. I've also tried RainX which
> itself is pretty amazing, but the problem recurs after an hour or so.
> Any ideas?
>
> TIA
>
> Jason
> --
> reverse my name in email address >> Stay informed about: smeary windshield wipers |
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External
Since: Sep 07, 2006
Posts: 1
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(Msg. 11) Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 12:48 pm
Post subject: Re: smeary windshield wipers [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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Jason wrote:
> This is weird. My wife and I both drive fairly new Subarus. Mine is
> about a year older, and since it was new I have never been happy with
> the way the wipers leave a trailing hazy "glow" that disappates after a
> few seconds, only to re-appear on the next swipe. My wife's car has no
> such problems at all. I have tried various wiper blades, both Subaru and
> OEM and the results are the same. I have tried all kinds of ways to
> clean the windshield. Sometimes, after cleaning, the problem goes away
> for a while, but after as little as a half hour it comes back. It's as
> if there was a bit of oil on the windshield. I'm left wondering if the
> car itself is "venting" something oily from under the hood that's
> winding up on the windshield. Most recently, I tried a cleaning product,
> "No Touch" recommended by the local parts dealer. It claims to remove
> everything. It worked well...for a while. I've also tried RainX which
> itself is pretty amazing, but the problem recurs after an hour or so.
> Any ideas?
>
> TIA
>
Been there with the same problem.
I got Subaru to fit new blades.
and dumped the new Bosch blades just
fitted to cure the problem which had crept up.
No good.
I posted here looking for answers and tried most fixes
suggested.
I cleaned the screen with every solvent
I had in the garage...spent hours polishing
the screen with special glass cleaners...
tried every washer additive in the store.
Nothing worked, drove me mad.
Then I cracked it.
I bent the wiper arms forward a tad to increase
the blade pressure on the screen.
Bingo...problem solved.
In time the spring arm tensioners lose some tension
is my guess.
It worked and I'm happy!
4 yr old WRX BTW
SB >> Stay informed about: smeary windshield wipers |
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External
Since: Apr 09, 2006
Posts: 16
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(Msg. 12) Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 3:32 pm
Post subject: Re: smeary windshield wipers [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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k. ote wrote:
> MD wrote:
>
> > Try using some rainx, it really helps make the water bead off your
> > windshield. I found no smeary mess when I did that.
>
> Beading water == BAD. It means there's something there for the water to
> catch on, which means there's something other than glass between your
> wipers and your windshield, which means you don't have a clean windshield.
Actually I find that a fresh coat of rainx over a clean
winshield causes the water beads to flow off faster, than do
sheets of water from a plain clean winshield, past a certain
driving speed. Seems like the surface friction of the glass
surface becomes lower or something. Thus I don't need to use
my wipers blades as much after a fresh rainx treatment, unless
in slow or stop&go traffic, or if it's really pouring rain.
The rainx does seem to need to be applied over a squeeky
clean winshield, and then buffed thoroughly several times,
in order not to smear.
IMHO. YMMV. (and I own no stock in the rainx company, AFAIK).
--
rhn A.T nicholson d.0.t C-o-M >> Stay informed about: smeary windshield wipers |
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External
Since: Mar 09, 2005
Posts: 69
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(Msg. 13) Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 4:55 pm
Post subject: Re: smeary windshield wipers [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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MD wrote:
> Try using some rainx, it really helps make the water bead off your
> windshield. I found no smeary mess when I did that.
Beading water == BAD. It means there's something there for the water to
catch on, which means there's something other than glass between your
wipers and your windshield, which means you don't have a clean windshield.
I would be very surprised if you have an invisible windshield wiper cycle on
a dark rainy night.
Water needs to sheet off your windshield without any resistance nor friction
at all--that's a true, clean windshield. Otherwise, you might as well be
waxing your glass.. >> Stay informed about: smeary windshield wipers |
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External
Since: Apr 09, 2006
Posts: 16
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(Msg. 14) Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 8:20 pm
Post subject: Re: smeary windshield wipers [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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Jason wrote:
> In article ,
> fourstring DeleteThis @blueyonder.co.uk says...
> > Then I cracked it.
> > I bent the wiper arms forward a tad to increase
> > the blade pressure on the screen.
> > Bingo...problem solved.
>
> Thanks!
>
> I've tried all the other cleaning suggestions with some success, but the
> problem always returns. I will discuss with the dealer whether there's a
> less drastic way to increase the tension (and will probably wind up
> bending the arms...). My case is slightly different - the problem has
> existed since the car was new. I guess it could be a design or
> manufacturing flaw.
You might even be able to measure the force on the windshield
from the wipers that work, and adjust the wipers which don't to
match that pressure. Maybe something like a spring fishing scale
could be used to measure the downforce of the wiper blades?
That would at lease verify that there is a difference worth trying
to fix.
IMHO. YMMV.
--
rhn A.T nicholson d.0.t C-o-M >> Stay informed about: smeary windshield wipers |
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External
Since: Sep 05, 2006
Posts: 6
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(Msg. 15) Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 11:55 pm
Post subject: Re: smeary windshield wipers [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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In article ,
fourstring.TakeThisOut@blueyonder.co.uk says...
> Then I cracked it.
> I bent the wiper arms forward a tad to increase
> the blade pressure on the screen.
> Bingo...problem solved.
Thanks!
I've tried all the other cleaning suggestions with some success, but the
problem always returns. I will discuss with the dealer whether there's a
less drastic way to increase the tension (and will probably wind up
bending the arms...). My case is slightly different - the problem has
existed since the car was new. I guess it could be a design or
manufacturing flaw.
Jason
-- >> Stay informed about: smeary windshield wipers |
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